Electrofluid-pressure switching mechanism.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

W. J. BELL. BLEGTROFLUID PRESSURE SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

M f V m PATENTED AUG. 15, 1906.

W. J. BELL. ELEUTROFLUID PRESSURE SWITGHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.135, 190 1.

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PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

W J, BELL ELEOTROFLUID PRESSURE SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED AUG amu L...

msmam a c lllll lll lllllillll ST fllhl PATENT UT C l VALTER JOEL BELL,OF LOS ANGELEE UAL'l'FORNlA, ASSIGNOR OF "ONE-HALF TU LEON l MUSE), OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

lELlEtJ TWlUFLlJllDd FtE$SUl lE SWll'Ul-llllhlt WlEt3MANl$lVLSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed August 25, 1904. Serial No. 222,175.

To (r/U/ who/7t it 'nuty concern:

Be it known that l, WALTER JonL BELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful lm iirovements inEleetrolluid- Pressure Switching Mechanism; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved electrolluid-messure switchingmechanism containing, among other novel and valuable features, anexcitable electric element which has the double function of closing astarting-circuit whereby to establish an operating-circuit and ofbreaking said operating-circuit after the switching has been performed.

The invention in all of its details will be readily comprehended,reference being had to the following description and to the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating the invention in its preferred form ofembodiment, it being understood that various modifications and changesmay be made therein without exceeding the scope of the concludingclaims.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switching mechanismembodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly insection, of the controlling mechanism. Fig. 3 is a further enlargedsectional view of the pressurechamber and adjacent parts. Fig. 41 is adetail view of the valvecasing 63. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of l ig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the maintrolley-wire, and 2 is the divergent trolley-wire, both of which areconstantly charged. Adjacent to the main wire 1. and at a point inadvance of the switch is a wire 3, from which depend a number ofliexible contacts 4, arranged in the path of a con stantly-chargedcontact 5 on the car, which contact 5 is mounted to be elevated by themotor-man into position to engage the pendent contacts as, for example,through the medium of a rope or chain 6. Near the switch is thecontrolling mechanism inclosed by a suitable casing, (not shown, andsaid casing or another casing may be employed to inclose thefluidcompressor and compressor-aetuator. In the casing are twosolenoid-magnets, the coils of one of which, 7, are connected with thewire 3 by a wire 8 and are grounded through a wire 9. The coils of theother solenoid-magnet 10 are connected by a wire 11 with a contact 12closely adjacent to the divergent wire 2, but insulated therefrom, saidwires 2 12 being bridged by the trolley-wheel of a switched car. Themagnet 10 is grounded through a wire 13. The armature 14, which isslidable in openings in the magnets 7 10, is provided with setcollars 1515 for limiting its stroke At the inner end of magnet 7 is a bracket 16,on the upper end of which is fixed a contact 17, insulated by a block18. Likewise at the inner end of magnet 10 is a bracket 19 and contact20 and an interposed insulating-block 21. A wire 22 leads from thecontact 17 to the compressor-aetu ator, and the contact 20 iselectrically connected with the wire 22 by a wire 23.

Supported preferably from the brackets 16 19, as shown, is avertically-disposed. casing 24:, having a horizontal partition 25,providing an upper pressure-chainber 26, the latter be ing supplied withfluid, preferably oil, under pressure by a pipe 27, leading from thecompressor. The compressor or pump 28 is preferably of the ordinaryspur-gear rotary type.

and is operated by an electric motor. At the opening in the pump-casingfor the projecting shaft 29 is a suitable stufling-gland, and the innerend of said shaft is 'journalcd in a closed extension or boss, as shown.The shaft 30 of the motor 31 carries a head 32, which is insulatedtherefrom by a disk 33 and is provided with pins 34:, removably enteringcorrespondingly-placed openings in a head 35 on the pump-shaft. By thisconstruction the pump and motor shafts may be quickly coupled anduncoupled. Oil supplied to the pump from a reservoir 36 through aninletpipe 37. In the pressure-pipe 27 is a check valve 38 and apressure-gage 39. As a signal to indicate the pressure in the pipe 27there may be employed a liuid-pressure-operated semaphore eh), the[)lSEOD-QYllIltlOl of which is connected by a pipe 41 with the pipe 27.

In the partition 25 and lower casing portion are three passages orports, one of which, 122, is connected by a pipe 13 with a cylinder 4: 1

' at the rear of a slidable piston 45, said piston being connected by arod -16 with the switchtongue 17. Another passage or port 18 isconnected by a pipe 4:9 with said cylinder in front of the piston. Thesepipes 43 19 serve alternately to convey oil under pressure to thecylinder, whereby to obtain the operative and retractive movements ofthe piston, and consequently of the tongue 17. To indicate the properworking of the parts, fluid-pressureoperated semaphore-signals 51 arerespectively connected with the pipes 13 19. Intermediate of thepassages or ports 12 and 48 is an exhaust passage or port 52, connectedwith the oil-tank by a pipe 53. Controlling the passages or ports 12,a8, and 52 is a recessed slide-valve 5i, normally positioned toestablish intercommunication between all of said passages or ports, asshown in Fig. 2. Extending transversely of the casing 2 1 is ashaft 55,on which is fixed a depending arm 56, having its lower end confinedbetween shoulders on the valve. Fixed to a projecting end of the shaftis an arm 57, having toward its upper end a slot 58, receiving alaterally-extending pin 59 on the armature 1a, which pin is headed toprevent turning of the armature. The arm 57 carries at its upper end acontact 60, insulated therefrom by a block 61 and connected with thedivergent wire 2 by a constantly-charged feed-wire 62.

Extending inwardly from one wall of the pressurechamber 26 is a casing63, the inner end of which is closed and to the outer end of which isconnected a pipe 64;, leading to an air-chamber 65. In the pipe 6% is aby-pass valve 66, the discharge-outlet of the valvecasing beingconnected with the oil-reservoir 36 by a pipe 67. In thelower wall ofthe casing 63 is an opening 68, affording communication between theinterior of the casing and the pressurechamber 26, said opening beingcontrolled by a valve 69, normally pressed against its seat by a spring70, the tension of which is regulated by a set-screw 71.

72 is a lever pivoted to the under side of the casing 63 andintermediately loosely attached to a stem '73, depending from the valve69, the outer end of the lever being beveled and arranged to be engagedand elevated by the slide-valve 5 1 in its movement to the left. Theengaging surface of the valve is beveled to conform to the shape of thelever end.

The upper stem 74 of the valve 69 is provided with two collars 75,between which is loosely confined the bifurcated or forked end of onearm 76 of abell-cranl; lever 77, pivoted at 78. The other and shorterarm 79 of the lever is provided with an opening 80, in which is slidablyheld the stem 81 of a valve 82, normally separated from its seat aboutan opening 83, which affords communication between the interior of thecasing 63 and the pipe 6 1. The valve 82 is pressed in the direction ofits seat by a relatively light tension-spring 84a The opening for thevalve-stem is sufficiently large to allow the valve 82 lateral play toinsure proper seating of the latter.

In one wall of the casing 24. is an opening 85, to which is connected apipe 86, leading into a cylinder 87 below a piston 88 therein, saidpiston being normally depressed by a relatively heavy tension-spring 89.The piston-stem 90 is flexibly connected with a yoke 91, the ends ofwhich are pivotally attached at 92 to the side members of a buffer 93,hinged at their outer ends to a bracket 9 1, which forms the support forthe cylinder 87. The buffer members extend forwardly at the sides of themagnet 7 and are offset in front of the latter to bring their inner ends95 in the path of the collar 15 to provide in the elevated position ofthe bufifer a stop for limiting the final movement of the armature 1 1to the left. The member ends are preferably connected at their lowersides by a bridgepiece 96. insulating-block 97, .to which is attached acontact 98,electrically connected with the wire 8 by a wire 99. In thepath of the contact 98 is a preferably flexible contact 100, secured tothe bracket 16, but insulated therefrom by a block 101. The contact 100is electrically connected with the contact 20 by a wire 102.

In operation the motorman or operator of a car to be switched elevatesthe contact 5 into the path of the pendent contact 1, and when saidcontacts come into engagement an impulse of electricity is sent, bymeans of the wire 8, through the coils of magnet 7 and through the wire9 to ground. The magnet thus energized by what may be called thestarting-circuit attracts and moves the armature to the left, therebyrocking the arm 57 in the same direction and effecting engagement of thecontacts 60 and 17. Currentnow flows from the divergent wire 2 throughthe wire 62, contacts 60 17, and wire 22 to the motor and is thengrounded A wire 103, connected with the wire 22, leads to signals, whichmay be one or more lights 104 and one or more semaphores 105, the latterbeing of the usual magnetic type operated by an arma- 'ture or solenoid,and from thence to ground.

The light-signals may be in series with the semaphores or otherwise, asdesired. Preferably lights 106 are inserted in the motor-circuit as asignal to indicate that the motor is in operation. The pump beingstarted by the motor, oil is forced under pressure through the pipe 27into the chamber 26, and the valve 5 1, having been shifted to the rightby movement of the arm 57, the oil flows through the uncovered passageor port 4E2 through the pipe 43 into the cylinder 44: and moves thepiston 5 to the right to throw the switclr tongue 17, the existence ofpressure in the pipe 43 being indicated by the semaphore, as aboveexplained. The switcl'i-tongue is maintained in its thrown position bythe pressure of oil created by the continued operation of the motor andpump, which pressure acts to unseat the valve 69 against the action ofits spring, the raised valve allowing the surplus oil to pass throughthe casing-opening 68, casing On one of the buffer members is an 63,pipe 64:, and into the air-chamber 65. As the chamber lills theincreased pressure due to the con tinned pumping unseats the by-passvalve, and the surplus oil flows through the pipe 67 back into theoil-reservoir The switch-tongue being in thrown position, the car enterson the divergent track, and the trolley-wheel thereo'l bridging the wire2 and contact 12 an impulse of electricity is sent from the wire 2through the wheel and contact 12, through the wire 11, through the coilsof magnet 10, and thence through the wire 13 to ground. The energizedmagnet 10 attracts and moves the armature to the right and breaks theoperating-circuit at 60 17 but said operating-circuit almostSililllltztDGOflSlV1'6- established by the ei'igagement of the contacts60 and 20, whereupon current flows from the wire 2 through wire 62,contacts 60 20, wire 23, wire 22 to the motor and from thence to ground.In the movement ol the arm 57 to the right the arm 56 is rocked to theleft, and the valve 54 is thereby shifted to uncover the passage orpoi-H8, whereupon oil under pres sure flows through the pipe a9 and intothe cylinder 4A in frontot' the piston to retract the latter and theswitch-tongue, it being understood that in this position of the valvethe oil exhausts from the rear side of the piston tin-ough the pipe as,passage or port 4L2, valverecess, exhaust-passage 52, and pipe 53, backinto the oil-reservoir. The existence of pressure in the pipe 4L9 isindicated by the somaphore 51. The movement of the valve 54 to the leftalso eti'ects the unseating of the valve (39 by the engagement of thebeveled surface of the valve with the lever 72, whereby oil flows fromthe chamber 65 back into the chamber 26 and from thence into the forwardend of the cylinder 4A. Usually after the tongue is thrown there ispresent in the chamber 65 a suliicient accumulated oil-pressure toeffect the retraction of the piston and tongue independent of thecontinued action of the pump; but it the pressure so obtained isinsutlicient it is raised to the requisite degree by the still activepump. in the unseatingmovement ot' the valve 69 by the lever 72 thevalve 82is carried in the direction of its seat by the bellcrank lever77; but as the spring of the valve 82 is of relatively light tensionsaid valve is held from seating by the pressure of the retm'ning oiluntil the pressures in the chambers 65 and 26 are uniform, whereupon thevalve 82 is pressed against its seat by the spring Set and communicationbetween the chambers interrupted, and all of the pressure now derivedfrom the continued action of the pump is directed against the piston toretract it. The provision of the (lGSClllJQtl pressure-controlling meansis desirable,owing to the necessity of obtaining a quick retraction ofthe piston and tongue. The energy exerted by the pump after the switchis thrown is stored in the chamber 65, and thus stored energy isutilized for the retraction of the tongue. It the accumulated pressureis, however, insullicient for the stated purpose, the chamber 65 is cutoil by the seating of the valve 82, and the pump acts to furnish pressure directly to the piston. Ordinarily the stored, pressure in thecluunber 65 is su'llioient to retract the tongue, and the necessity ofgetting up pressure by pump il or this purpose is avoided; but by theprovision of the described means a timely retraction of the tongue isassured regardless of varying pressure conditions. The action of thepump continues after the retraction of the tongue, and the increasingoilpressure tinding no vent is exerted against the piston 88 in thecylinder 87 to move said piston against the action o'l its spring 89,the tension of which is sulliciently heavy to resist the action of theformer pressures. When the pressure re; :hes asullicient degree, thepiston is moved to elevate the bu tl'er 9 to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the contact 98, carried by the butter,is brought into engagement with the contact 100 to send current from thewire 2, through wire 62, contacts (50 20, wire 102, contacts 100 98,wire 99, wire 8, coils oi magnet 7, and wire 9 to ground. The magnet 7being thus energized, the armature is moved to the left until thestop-collar 15 thereon comes against the bufler 93. This limitedmovement of the armature returns the contact (50 to its normaldisengaged position and eliects the breaking of the circuits through themotor and through the magnet 7. The 1nag1'iet7 is thus employed both toclose and open or break the operatingcircuit, and the function of themagnet 10 is to retract the ari'nature and the contact 60 after theirinitial movements. The arm 57 is brought by the limited movement of thear' mature midway between the contacts 17 and 20, and said movement alsobrings the valve 54L into position to establish commnnieation betweenboth pressure-pipes -l-;: and T9 and the exhaust-pipe With the valve sopositioned the surplus oil exhausts from the cylinder and leaves thepiston 4L5 tree from pressure, and the tongue may readily be moved byhand in either (.lirection, if occasion requires. in the retractivemowment of the valve the lever 72 is released, the valve ('39 is seated,and the valve 82 is unseated by the movement of the bell-crank lever 77,due to pressure of the sprii'ig 70. The pressure in the cylinder 87,pipe 8b, and chamber 26 now linds vent by raising the valve (59 andpassing by the unseated valve 82 into the air-chamber. The pressurebeing thus reduced, the spring 89 acts to retract the piston 88, bullerU3, and contact 98, thereby releasing the armature, to be againattracted by the magnet 7 in the next o eration. No sparking occurs inthe separation of the contacts 98 and 100, the circuit having previouslybeen broken.

The construction of certain features of the invention allows of a numberof modifications. For example, the solenoid-magnets, the contact 60,cylinder 87, pipe 86, and valves 69 and 82 may be omitted and a handlemay be secured to the arm 57, whereby said arm may be manipulated by anoperator to move the valve 54:, and thereby efiect the throwing of anyone of a number of tongues at crossings or other points having a numberof switches. In this modification a spring may be inserted at eitherside of the piston 45, dependent upon the direction of setting movementof the tongues.

I claim as my invention 1. In a switching mechanism, fluid-pressuremeans for moving the switching element, an electric actuator for saidmeans, an operatingcircuit for the actuator, and an excitable electricelement for making and breaking the said operating-circuit.

2. In a switching mechanism, an electromagnet energized from the car, anarmature arranged to be moved by the energized magnet, anoperating-circuit including a contact connected with the armature to bemoved thereby to close the operating-circuit, and means for reenergizingsaid magnet to again move said contact to break the operating-circuit.

3; Inaswitchingmechanism,an electromagnet energized from the car, anarmature arranged to be moved by the energized magnet, anoperating-circuit including a contact connected with the armature to bemoved thereby to establish the operating-circuit, a second magnetadapted when energized to move said contact to break and thenreestablish the operating-circuit, and means for reenergizing thefirst-named magnet to again'move said contact to break theoperating-circuit.

4:. In a switching mechanism, an operating electric circuit, means forestablishing said circuit, means for breaking and then reestablishingsaid operating-circuit, and connections including the first-named meansfor finally breaking said operating-circuit.

5. In aswitchingmechanism,an electromagnet energized from the car, asecond magnet, an armature arranged to be moved by the energizedmagnets, an electric actuator, and an operating-circuit for saidactuator including a constantly-charged contact movable between fixedcontacts said movable contact being connected with the armature, wherebythe operating-circuit is first established, then broken andreestablished and finally broken, substantially as described.

6. In aswitching mechanism,an electromagnet energized from the car, asecond magnet, an armature arranged to be alternately moved andretracted by said magnets, an electric actuator, an operating-circuitfor said actuator, fixed contacts both in said operating-cir cuit, and aconstantly-charged contact movable between the fixed contacts.

7. In a switching mechanism,an electromagnet energized from a car, asecond magnet energized from the car after traversing the switch anarmature attracted alternately by said magnets, an electric actuator, anactuator-operating circuit including two fixed contacts, and aconstantly-charged contact connected with the armature and movablethereby to alternately engage said fixed contacts.

8. In a switching mechanism, a solenoidmagnet energized from a car, asecond solenoidmagnet energized from the car after traversing theswitch, an armature attracted alternately by said magnets, an electricactuator, an actuator-operating circuit including two fixed contacts,and a constantly-charged rockcontact connected with the armature andmovable thereby to alternately engage said fixed contacts.

9. In a switching mechanism, a solenoidmagnet, a second solenoid-magnet,an armature common to said magnets, an electric actuator, anoperating-circuit including two fixed contacts, a constantly-chargedcontact movable by the armature to alternately engage said fixedcontacts, said charged contact operating in its movements to firstestablish the operating-circuit by engagement with one of the fixedcontacts, then to break and then reestablish the operating-circuit byengagement with the other contact and finally to break saidoperating-circuit, and a buffer operating to limit the final movement ofthe charged contact to position it between the fixed contacts.

10. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a fluid-pressure chamber provided with twofluid-ports and an intermediate exhaust-port, pipes leading from thefluid-ports to the piston-cylinder at the front and rear of the piston,fiuid-pressure-operated signal devices connected with said pipes, avalve normally covering the ports but allowing intercommunicationbetween them, and means for shifting the valve to alternately uncoverthe fluidports.

11. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a fluid-compressor, an electric actuator for thecompressor, a chamber receiving the fluid under pressure, said chamberhaving ports, a valve at said ports movable to direct the pressurealternately to the ends'of the pistoncylinder, a rock-arm connected withthe valve, a constantly-charged contact on the arm, an armature to whichthe arm is connected, an operating-circuit for the actuator includingfixed contacts, and magnets adapted to attract the armature to move thearm and effect the closing of the operating-circuit and the movements ofthe valve.

12. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a chamber receiving fluid under pressure and verseshaving fluid and exhaust ports, respectively connected with the1:)iston-cylinder and a fluid tank or reservoir, a valve controllingsaid ports, an air-chamber having pipe connection with thepressure-cl'iamber said pipe extending into the latter, and valves insaid extension one of which unseats in the direction oi the air-chamberand the other in the direction of the pressure-chamber.

13. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a valved pressure-chamber through which fluid underpressure passes to the piston, an air -chamber, a pipe leading from theairchamber into the pressure-ch amber, and valves in said pipe unseatingin opposite directions.

l l. ln a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a valved pressure -chambor through which fluid underpressure passes to the piston, an airchamber, a pipe connecting the twochambers and having a by-pass valve, a spring-pressed valve in the pipeunseating in the direction 01 the air-chamber, and a relatively lighttension-spring-pressed valve unseating in the direction ol thepressure-chamber.

15. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a valved pressurechamber through which fluid underpressure passes to the piston, an air-chamber, a pipe connecting thechambers, a spring-pressed valve in said pipe unseating in the directionof the air-chamber, a second valve in said pipe unseating in thedirection of the pressure-chamber, a bell-crank lever connecting thevalves, and a relatively light tension-spring at the second valve.

16. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connectedwith said element, a chamber through which fluid under pressure passesto the piston, a slide-valve controlling the cl'ian'ibcr-ports, anair-chamber, a pipe connecting the chambers and extending in thern'essure-chamher, a lever in the path of the slide-valve, aspring-pressed valvein the pipe extension connected with the lever andunseating in the direction of the air-chamber, a second valve in thepipe unseating in the direction of the pressLire-chamber, a bell-cranklever connecting the said valves, and a relatively lighttei'ision-spring for pressing the second valve in the direction of itsseat.

17. .lna switching mechanism, the combination ol a ll [lid-pressurechamber, an air-chamher, a pipe connecting the chambers and extendingwithin the pressure-chamber, a valve in said pipe unseating in thedirection of the air-chamber, a spring for pressing said valve to itsseat having tension-regnlating means, a bell-crank lever connected atone arm to the valve-stem, an opening in the other arm, a valveunseating in the direction of the pressure-ch amber and. having its stemloosely confined in the arm-opening, and a relatively lighttension-swing for the last-mulled valve.

18. in a switching mechanism, fluid-pressure means including acon'ipressor and a pressure-chamber for operating the switching element,an electric actuator for the compressor, an operating-oircuit tor theactuator including fixed contacts, a eonstantly-charged contact movablebetween said Iixed contacts, an armature connected with the movablecontact, electromagnets for moving the armature, a cylinder connectedwith the pressure-chamber, a piston in the cylinder, and a butlerconnected with the piston and arranged to be moved into the path of astop on the armature to limit the movement of the movable contact uponthe creation of a certain pressure in said chan'iber.

19. in a switching mechanism, a ll uid-pressure-operated switchingelement, a fluid-compressor, an electric actuator for the compressor, anoperating-clrcuit for the actuator, an armature adapted in its movementsto effect the closing and opening of said circuit, and a stop forlimiting the final movement of the armature to break said circuit, saidstop being brought into position by the fluid-pressure created after theretraction of the switching element.

20. In a switching mechanism, a switching element arranged to be thrownand retracted by fluid-pressure, a lluid-compressor, an electricactuator for the etmpressor, an operatingcircuit for the actuator.electric means including an armature for making and breaking saidcircuit, and a movable stop interposed in the path of the linal movementof the armature by the pressure created after the retraction of theswitching element.

21. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, fluid-pressure meansincluding a compressor for moving said element, means for storingpressure for retracting said element after movement, and means operatedby an increase of pressure after such retraction for stopping thecompressor.

22. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, fluid-pressure meansincluding a compressor for moving said element, means for storingprcssure'ior retracting indepeiulent oi the further action oi thecompressor the element after movement, and means operated by theincrease of pressure after such retraction for stopping the compressor,said last-named means including a piston and a spring the tension ofwhich is sullicient to resist the Former pressures.

.l n testil'nolrv w hereof l allix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

\VAlJ'llClt JOEL BELL l Vitnesses:

H. ll. Annals, E. A. ll a'rnlmaiv,

